19th Street

Chapter #5

A week had passed since I came back. A week not even cold soup had entered my mouth, but only water.

A week of nightmares, and images of Jay upset, desperate to find me. I tried to convince myself he will forget about me eventually, but I knew he wouldn't. I could feel him searching for me.

Night had fell over the world, well, at least my world.

I curled up into a ball, trying to warm my cold body up. It has been more difficult than ever to survive through those cold night. After years of training, I was used to it. But the one benefit I found at that room was the warmth. And after so long, my body aches for that feeling; warmth.

"It's been a week, Oli. she is probably long gone by now. This is a waste of time!" a strange voice had my shooting up to my feet. It could be some foolish teenagers sneaking out at night, but after what I'd been through, the world is not as innocent as it seemed to be.

The sound of footsteps got louder and louder and I could feel the presence of people coming closer to me.

The worst scenarios possible ran through my head one after the other. I panicked.

Could it be El Salvador? Did they come back to get me? Was the money paid not enough for them?

A sense of Deja Vu came over me as a flash of light appeared and blinded me. I could spot four tall shadow figures behind that light. "Oh my.. Are you alright?" one asked as he got closer, he signaled the rest to stay back.

I pressed my body against the wall as hard as I could, hoping it could somehow swallow me into it and prevent those men from hurting me.

"Please.. He gave you enough! Please don't demand more." I pleaded, crying the last drops of liquid in my system out. "What are you talking about, hon? What could we demand?" he asked, his voice was soft, but it wouldn't fool me.

"I've been kept by your people for two whole years. He has been working for two years to get the money you demanded. Please don't take me back there. I can't stand any more of this." I sled down to the floor, begging for mercy.

The man seemed to feel bad for me. But I couldn't give in so easily. Assume the worst, is one of the things I was taught throughout my time with El Salvador.

"Hey, hey. It's alright. Shh, please don't cry. We won't hurt you. I promise." he shushed me, I tried to balance my breathes.

"Who are you?" I asked cautiously. "We are from 18th Street." he responded.

18th Street.. That is Jay's gang. I gulped, understanding everything now.

"I'm so sorry for what happened to you, Audrey. Jay is worried sick about you. We've been searching for you for days." he kept going, but my mind was busy processing it all. If they're here, they're going to try and take me to Jay, or their warehouse.

They will try to take care of me, and start telling me what to do.. Just like in my worst dreams.

"You are Jay's friends, right?" I asked, he lowered the light, I could see his face more clearly now.

He had chocolate brown hair, and gray eyes, and was wearing a black hoodie with a strange logo on it.

"We need to take you to a doctor, you are way too skinny, and well beaten." he said, examining my skin.

I shot my eyes at him, fear spreaded over my body as he said 'doctor'.

A doctor would have to see me bare, as well as touch me, and put all sorts of tools on me. No.

I jumped up on my feet, and started running. Trying to escape the fate they put up against me.

But I didn't make it very far before I could feel a pair of arms holding me tight, and raising me in the air.